Zoo’s don’t always top my to-do list, but the San Diego Zoo is one of my faves and has something for everyone from innocent tot to jaded octogenarian. Fun for families? Sure. But you don’t need a kid to party with the zoo animals in San Diego.

If you’re thinking of going, here are my top tips for planning your trip.

For starters, you really need to take advantage of the tour bus and/or the Skyfari Gondola lift for a birds-eye view of the place. The San Diego Zoo is huge, taking up 100 acres of prime real estate and featuring more than 4,000 awesome animals. And you know what they say: Location, Location, Location.

The San Diego Zoo is based in beautiful Balboa Park, and not far from downtown San Diego and the Gaslamp Quarter. You could spend days just walking around and seeing the sights.

As far a zoos go, the San Diego Zoo does a better job than most taking care of the animals — and animal rights are a common concern here on the left coast. The Zoo aims for humane surroundings, with habitats that mimic those in nature, surrounded by moats rather than fencing and cages, wherever possible. The San Diego Zoo also provides large free-flight aviaries.

Herding flamingos at the San Diego Zoo

7 Savvy Tips for your San Diego Zoo Trip

The park is too big to visit in one day, so you’ll want to prioritize. If you’ve been there before, you already know your top stops. Here are mine:

1. Start with a Ticket Deal

Before you go, get your tickets online and save. Skip down for a list of 10 San Diego Zoo discounts.

2. Take the Zoo Bus Tour in the morning

Start your day with a 35-minute narrated bus tour to get the lay of the land. Taking a free bus tour of the grounds lets you plan what exhibits and animals you want to visit most, and on the tour you’ll get a quick glimpse of everything else. The double decker bus tour is included with admission tickets and runs from 9:30-am-7pm daily.

FYI, there’s also a Kangaroo Bus that lets you hop on and off at four different stops throughout the Zoo. Look for the yellow Kangaroo Bus banners that mark the pickup areas. You won’t have to wait long — the bus stops by every 15 minutes. (Included with admission tickets.)

3. Take the Aerial Tram just before sunset

Most people want to take Skyfari in the morning so they can see the layout of the zoo from above. That’s great. But for the most Instagrammable photos, go at dusk. The tram is included with your admission tickets and runs daily from 10am-9pm.

3. Peek at the Pandas

How could you not? All the zoo animals have their merits. But the San Diego Zoo is one of only four places in the US where you can see Giant Pandas, which are on the endangered species list. See the pandas early in the day to avoid long lines.

4. Stroll the Gardens

Who knew? The Zoo’s botanical garden is really impressive, with a special orchid garden you won’t want to miss, and collections of bamboo, coral tree, cycad, ficus, and palm. The San Diego Zoo is known for rescuing rare and endangered plants, and takes price in offering tours and special botanical events Check the schedule here.

5. Get Hands On at the Petting Paddock

Packing kids? Head for the popular Petting Paddock where they can touch the sheep and goats, watch animal babies get cuddled and bottle-fed by zoo workers, watch wombats and spy little spider monkeys.

6. Dine and Drink

Fine dining and a full bar at the zoo? Why yes. Albert’s, in the Tree House complex in Lost Forest, next to Gorilla Tropics, is open for lunch and summer dinners overlooking a private waterfall. One of the top “Places to dine amid outdoor beauty,” according to USA Today. Cheers.

San Diego Zoo Discounts

When you pre-purchase your tickets online, you can save and also bypass the front gate. San Diego Zoo offers are among the most popular deals on our Savvy San Diego pages. You have a few ways to save everyday from various sources (directly from the zoo and also from ticket companies the zoo works with to provide discounts).

A few combo pass discounts are also available and are a great choice for people visiting the area on vacation. If one of these deals sells out, try another.

DEAL 2. San Diego Zoo Coupon Code

{Current Code + Skip the Ticket Line}{get tickets here} These discount tickets are $4 off with coupon code SDZO5 (no added fees). This is a different ticket source that offers our readers a the coupon code for an extra dollar off their already discounted price. This source also doesn’t add fees at checkout (they are already figured into the price).

Add it up and the price is exactly the same as deal 1, just a different ticket source. As with the first source, you can skip the ticket line and go directly to the gate.

DEAL 3. Go San Diego Discount Passes

{Editor’s Pick}Go San Diego Pass has a new updated way you can choose attractions and activities, with a custom “build your own” option. Frankly, most of us don’t want to visit 50 attractions in one visit, so this option makes the Go San Diego card way better than it used to be and easier to use, too.

You can select as few as two San Diego area activities and still save around 20% or more on each. Use the card at the gate, you don’t have to pay so no ticket line. You’ll save as much as 55% if you choose more activities with this card.

You have a month from first activation (the first attraction you visit). Show it on your smart phone or print and go.

San Diego’s Fab 4 Combo Deal. This Combo Pass gets you a $59 discount when you visit four popular attractions. It includes a 1-Day San Diego Zoo ticket, 1-Day San Diego Zoo Safari Park ticket, 1-Day Legoland California and up to 7 consecutive days at SeaWorld San Diego.

DEAL 4. San Diego Zoo with Transport from Orange County

{Deal Details} If you’re staying at an Anaheim or Buena Park hotel, check this one out. You’ll be picked up from your hotel in the morning for a drive south to the Zoo for a full day of fun at your own pace.

San Diego Zoo Meerkat

More Ways to Save on San Diego Zoo Tickets

5. Senior Discount

Seniors age 65 and older can get a 10% discount off the 1-Day Pass at the gate (but compare prices with deal sources 1 and 2).

6. AAA Member Discount

AAA members who show their valid membership cards at ticket windows for a 10% off One-Day Pass valid for up to 6 people. (Not available online, and can’t be combined with other deals.)

7. Travel Industry Deals

Airline- and cruise line-eligible employees presenting a company-picture identification badge or CLIA card and one accompanying guest will receive a 10% discount off the 1-Day Pass at the Zoo and Safari Park ticket windows.

Travel agents, wholesalers, and tour operators presenting a valid IATA or IATAN card with picture ID receive a 10% discount off the 1-Day Pass at the Zoo and the Safari Park ticket windows. One accompanying guest will also receive the 10% discount.

8. Military Discount

While active military get in free with ID at the gate (see above under “San Diego Zoo Free”), military families and retirees may qualify for a discount. You’ll need to contact your military MWR ticket office for specific information.

San Diego Zoo giraffes

San Diego Zoo Free

Throughout the year, the San Diego Zoo makes a few things available for free.

Kids Free in October

{find out more} Each year, from October 1–31, children ages 3–11 get in free to the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and many other San Diego attractions when accompanied by an adult. Note: Not all services within the park are free on the free day (bus tour, etc. are extra).

Free for Military

A free one-day pass to the San Diego Zoo is available to active US military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and members of the Reserve components (Ready Reserve, National Guard, and Reservists in training); and also cadets of service academies and the US Merchant Marine Academy.

Just show your ID at the gate. (Contact your MWR office for possible discounts for military families or retired military.)

Free Parking

Parking to the San Diego Zoo is always free in the lot in front of the Zoo. You’ll also find free parking all over Balboa Park.

SAVVY TIP: San Diego Zoo has four electric vehicle charging stations in the free parking lot, plus one in a nearby handicapped spot. .

San Diego Zoo entrance Elephant (Photo by: I, Cburnett, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Hotels near San Diego Zoo

Staying over? We book our hotels on the zoo’s Hotels.com page where you can also browse user reviews gathered from three top travel sites (including TripAdvisor). A few to consider that are around a mile from San Diego Zoo (and Balboa Park):

(< 1 mi) Inn at the Park

(< 1 mi) Studio 819 Residential Hotel

(1.08 mi) Quality Inn San Diego Downtown North

(1.08 mi) West Park Inn

(1.23 mi) Days Inn San Diego/Downtown/Convention Center

(1.24 mi) Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown

(1.27 mi) BEST WESTERN PLUS Cabrillo Garden Inn

And more .. all on this page (chosen for the deals, “welcome rewards” and best price guarantee)

Know Before You Go

Best Time to Go to the San Diego Zoo

The zoo is open all year and the weather is always great. Holidays can get crowded, though. For families, the best time of year to save money is in October, when kids get in free (but go early to beat the crowds.)

San Diego Zoo Map

San Diego Zoo Address & Location

San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101 (just north of downtown San Diego).

San Diego Zoo Open Hours

Open 365 days a year, but hours vary by season, so check their calendar before you go.

Parking

General parking at the Zoo is free, with long spaces are available for RV/buses.

Public Transportation

Rapid 215 and Route 7 stop at the Zoo and are an easy connection in downtown from Amtrak and COASTER trains at the Santa Fe Depot, downtown hotels, the Cruise Ship Terminal, Blue, Orange, and Green Line Trolleys and other MTS bus routes.

Strollers & Wheelchairs

The zoo has a limited number of strollers, motorized wheelchairs available for rent.

First Aid Area

The zoo has a First Aid office next to the Reptile house. and a Lost and Found station, ATMs,

Best Infant Nursing Area

You’l find a couple of options at the First Aid center, including a privacy curtain, a microwave for warming up baby’s meal, and benches in somewhat private areas outside.

Lockers

For a nickel you can rent a locker at the Discovery Outpost across from Poppy’s Patio.

Hi, I love the advice, however, I’m really interested in the “Special Offer: Animals in Action” but when clicking the link it just takes me to the regular ticket page. I’m not sure if it’s a mistaken link or if the offer has passed but if you could help me out I’d be incredibly thankful.

You’re right, the “Animals in Action” special offer is gone off that ticket site. Sorry (and thanks for the heads up). I checked the other usual sources for deals like this, and no one seems to have it currently. If/when I find one, I’ll post it above.